I woke up beside Gale, my heart beating at a normal pace. I smiled at the sight of his beautiful face. I love him, I truly do.
"Wake up." I whisper to him. He then woke up gently, smiling.
"Morning Catnip." He whispers, his cheeks as red as roses. I smile, leaning in for a kiss. We kiss for some time before getting off of each other and planning out the day.
"So should we hunt?" He asks, his eyes locked with mine. I nod, noticing that our food pile is low. I know that we haven't ate as much as there was on the pile. Something was strange about it.
"Gale, when was the last time we ate?" I ask, trying to hide my suspicion about our food getting stolen.
"I think we skipped dinner last night, so probably yesterday morning." He replies. I then realize that someone or something has been taking our food.
"Look at the food pile. It's almost dry." I say, pointing to the pile, "We didn't eat all of the food on there. Something or someone has been eating when we have been away or sleeping." Gale looks at the pile to see that I am right.
"Should we track down whatever is eating our food?" He asks. I think for a bit of time. If we don't try to hunt down our prey snatcher, we're as good as screwed.
"We have to or else we're screwed." I answer, grabbing the free knife that was given to me by another tribute. Gale stands up and grabs my shoulder.
"Just where do you think you're going?" He asks, his eyes full of worry. I know he doesn't want me to go alone, but I have to. If I do die, then at least he lives and wins the games for Prim. But I want him to come with me. I fight back the urge to let him come with me.
"I'm going alone to find the prey snatcher." I reply. Gale looks at me like I'm insane.
"You're crazy if you think you're going without me." He says, grabbing a weapon.
"No Gale, you have to stay here." I say, fighting every nerve to let him come.
"And let you die out there alone? I don't think so." He says sternly.
"If I die…then you have to win the games for Prim. If we both die, then who will hunt for Prim? She's scared of the forest and would die of starvation if we both die out here." I say, feeling a tear trickle down my cheek. I search his gaze. Deep down I see that he understands my decision. He then flies into my arms.
"Don't be long…" He whispers.
"I won't….." I whisper back before planting a kiss on his lips, "I love you."
"I love you too." He whispers before letting me go. I walk out of the cave and into the forest. Am I really going to die or not? I walk a bit before coming across footprints. I crouch down. Looking at them more closely tells me they came from another direction. But where do they lead to? I look up to see the footprints go in all different directions. Does this mean other tributes know our location? I stand up and walk deeper into the forest. Within minutes I come across more footprints. Before I have time to crouch down, a loud scream comes from the north. I look north, my ears and eyes alert for any movement. A girl then rams into me. She pins me down. I kick and thrash my legs, hoping to get her off of me. But she manages to keep a firm grip on me. A knife then gets held right up to my neck.
"Looks like you aren't as strong as they said you were, Everdeen!" The girl taunts. I recognize her voice. It's Clove. Clove holds the knife even closer to my neck.
"We found you're base and know where you live. It's useless to try and run now." She grins, her teeth stained with some blood. I struggle underneath her weight, trying to get her off of me. But Clove keeps me pinned down hard. She then makes a tiny cut mark on my throat that could turn into a huge gash at any moment. I stay as still as possible.
"You've been taking my food!" I say angrily, realizing the blood was from animals. Clove grinned.
"Well it won't matter since you have lover boy with you!" She sneers. I then realize she means Gale. Has she been watching us?
"You watch us?!" I rasp. She smirks, her eyes sharp and gruesome.
"Well I don't think it matters now. Let's get started with some revenge, now shall we?" She growls, taking the knife and cutting a mark on my forehead. I let out a moan of pain as she makes a long cut mark. The knife begins to cut even deeper into my flesh. I start to scream in pain.
"GALE!" I shriek, hoping he can hear me. Clove then cuts even deeper. Before she had the chance to cut anymore deeper, something grabs her off of me. I close my eyes as I hear screams of pain and agony. It then comes to a stop. I open my eyes slightly to see another tribute has killed Clove.
"Only this one time Everdeen!" The tribute says before running off. I hold my hand up to my forehead. A gash has been made. I struggle to get up on my feet. My whole world then turns black.
"Katniss! Katniss!" A voice echoes. I can't move or respond. Light then seeps into my world. I then blink my eyes to see Gale begging me to wake up.
"Katniss…I p-promise to win the games for Prim….I won't l-let you down…" He cries, tears running down his cheeks.
"Gale…?" I rasp. His eyes widen at the sound of me speaking.
"Katniss!" He gasps, hugging me tightly. I smile weakly.
"I told you I'd be back."